Lubricating system



March 22, 1932. 1 jA BOLAND I LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

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March 22, 1932. 1 BQLAND 1,850,528

LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. das/EPH J 3a/ 4N@ A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 22, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g JOSEIH J'. IBOLAND, 0Fv KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY, ASSGNOR TO AEROMARINE PLANE & 'i MOTOR COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LUBRICATING SYSTEM Application led January v24, 1931. Serial No. 510,927. n

Passages 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are provided This invention relates to lubricating devices and more particularly to a device adapted for the lubrication of connecting rod bearings from a source of supply such as '"5 the crankshaft through which a fluid is usually" circulated by a means such as a pump.

An object of the invention is to effectively lubricate the connecting rod bearings of a radial engine whichv `comprise those of a I master rod and a plurality of auxiliary rods that are articulated to the master rod.

In the past it has been found extremely difficult to supply constant and efficient lubrication to the bearings of the auxiliary I connecting rods although the main or mass ter rod was adequately provided at all times with the lubrication iiuid. This was due to the fact that in radial engines the master rod is directly connected to the crank-pin of the 20' drive-shaft through which the fluid is circulated, whilst the auxiliary rods have no direct connection therewith since they are articulated to the master-rod for oscillating movement relatively thereto.

In the present invention I have provided simple and highly efcient means for lubricating the bearings of these auxiliary rods in addition to those of the master-rod said means comprising passages for the fluid from the master-rod to the articulated rods and an effective seal between the moving parts to prevent leakage of the fluid.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a careful consideration of the following particular description and claims of one form of the invention as herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section of a crankshaft taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the present invention in its preferred form.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the crank portion of a conventional crankshaft having a series of connecting rods common to radial engines connected thereto.

With reference to the drawings, designates a hollow drive shaft adapted for the circulation of a lubricating fluid, and 11 the 50. crank-throw which includes a crank-pin 12.

so that the fluid may be conducted around the crank-throw 11 to the crank-pin 12 which is conventional practice.

On this crank-pin 12 there is rotatably mounted a master-rod 18 having a barrel shaped bearing portion 19 which is provided with an inner bearing element 2O preferably formed of anti-friction metal which has an annular groove 21 cut around its inner circumference to facilitate the flow of the lubricant. Articulated to this master-rodilV by means of the hollow pins 22 are a plurality of radially extended auxiliary rods 23, 24 which also have a bearing element 25 drive iited into the cylindrical member 26 of the ro s.

On the exterior of the barrelhportion 19 I have formed or secured in any suitable manner and in axial alignment with each of the auxiliary rods a radially extended pad28 preferably constructed of antifriction metal. These pads are each provided vwith, a concaved face 29 of the same radius as the outer circumference of the cylindrical members 26 with which they are adapted to lightly contact; Passages 30 have been formed to extend through the pads 28, the barrell 19 and bearing element 20vso as to communicate with the groove 21, and one or more Vpassagesil have been provided to conduct the fluid from the passage 415 to said groove.

LPassages 32 have also been formed' to extend through the cylindrical members 26 yand the bearing portion 25 in a manner as to'register with thepassages 30. The outer openings of the passages 32 have been widened as to 33 so that the How of the lubricant may not be interrupted during the operation of the engine and it might be mentioned in passing, that the angular movement of the auxiliary rods during operation is not sufliciently great to bring the connecting passages out of register with one another provided thatA one or the other of said passages has been slightly enlarged in the manner shown and described.

, It is manifestv that with the construction herein disclosedthat there will be a constant iiowof lubricant from the passage 15 to the bearings of both the master-rod and the aux-L a iliary connecting rods particularly when such Vlubricant is circulated under considerableV ing the crankpin, a plurality of auxiliary rods, articulated to said master-rod by means of bearings and adapted for oscillation relatively thereto; said cylindrical bearingY portion of the master-rod and the bearings of the auxiliary rods each being provided with mutually communicating passages for the conduction offa lubricant from'Y said cranlrpin to all of said bearings; the passages of the auxiliary rod bearingsfbeing relatively movable to those of the master-rod, and means adapted to maintain effective communcation between said passages during such relative movement.; Y

2. In apparatus of the class described', the combinationvwith a crankshaft having a hollow crankpin with a lateral passage therethrough for the circulation of alubricant yto its outer circumference, of a master-rod having a cylindrical bearing portion surrounding said crankpim'a' plurality of auxiliary ro s articulated to said master-rod by means of bearings andy adapted for oscillation relatively thereto; said cylindrical bearing portion of the master-rod and the bearings of the auxiliary rods each being provided with passagesfor the conduction of a lubricant from said crankpin to all of said bearings; the passages of the auxiliary rods bearings beingy Y spaced from and relatively movable to those of the master-rod, and means disposedl between and adapted to maintain an effective communication between the relativelyV movable assages. f 1

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination withl a crankshaft having a crankpin provided with passages therethrough for the circulation of a lubricant to its outer circumference, of a master-rod having a cylindrical bearing element surrounding the crankpin, a plurality of auxiliaryy rods articulated to said master-rod by means of bearin elements `and adapted for oscillation'relatively thereto; said bearing elements being'providcd with fluid conductingY passages extending from the outer circumference of the crankpin to the bearings surfaces of the auxiliar rods, and means disposed between the vrelatively moving parts to provide an effective seal between said passages during operation. Y y.

4. In apparatusof theclass described, the combination with a crankshaft having a crankpin o provided with passages" therethrough for the circulation of a lubricant'to its outer circumference, of a master-rod having a cylindrical bearin portion surrounding the crankpin, a plura ity ofauxiliary rods articulated to s aid master rod by means of' bearings and adapted for' oscillation relatively thereto, the bearing portion of the mastert rod and the bearings of the auxiliary rods be-Y Y ing spaced apart, `asealing element disposed between the spaced apart bearings in a manner as to contact therewith; all'of said bear;-

bearing surfacesof the auxiliary rods'.

Signed at Keyport, in the countyof Monmouth, and State of New Jersey this 20th day yof January, 1931. I A

,' JOSEPH J. BOLAND. 

